Regulator mechanism



Oct. 22, 1963 G. v. NlcHoLs, JR., ETAL 3,107,544

REGULATOR MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 50, 1960 u) Ill l mi@ WWA s FUEL Oct. 22, 1963 G. v. NlcHoLs, JR., Erm. 3,107,544

REGULATOR MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed United States Patent O3,107,544 REGULATOR MECHANISM George V. Nichols, Jr., Benton Harbor, andAlbert D.

Ishoy, Hartford, Mich., assignors to Whirlpool Corporation, acorporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 30, 1960, Ser. No. 79,641 13 Claims.(Cl. 74-157) This invention relates to a regulator Iand moreparticularly to a water meter regulator.

In one improved form of water meter re-gulator, for use in watersoftening systems, a ratchet wheel is rotated by a driving pawl mountedon an oscillating lever for movement therewith, and pivotable thereonbetween two positions for driving the ratchet lwheel selectively inopposite directions. A holding pawl is concomitantly pivotable with thedriving pawl ybetween two positions for selectively engaging andregulating the ratchet wheel for step-by-step movement. During movementbetween its two positions the holding pawl actuates `a control device,such as an electric switch. The driving pawl may be moved between itstwo positions in any suitable manner responsive to a predeterminedamount of rotation of the ratchet wheel. The mechanism lfor moving thepawls between their two positions, however, has been of .a cornplicatedand expensive construction. A primary `feature of this invention is theprovision of a simplified mechanism for effecting concomitant movementof the driving and holding pawls between the two positions thereof.

An important feature of this invention is the provision of a new andimproved over-center spring connection with the driving pawl and theholding pawl for moving the holding pawl between two positions inresponse to movement of the driving pawl between two positions.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a regulator inwhich a lever oscillates on a base, having a driving pawl mounted on thelever for movement beltween two positions for selectively engaging andmoving a ratchet -wheel in opposite direction on the base responsive tooscillation of the lever, la holding pawl mounted on the base formovement between two positions for selectively engaging and regulatingthe movement of the ratchet wheel, 'and a spring having portionsconnected to the pawls and responsive to movement of the driving pawlbetween the two driving pawl positions for moving the holding pawlIbetween the two holding pawl positions and for urging the pawls intoengagement with the ratchet wheel.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from theillustrative embodiment of the invention shown on the accompanyingdrawings. Of the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan View of a regulator -with parts thereof in one of twopositions;

FIGURE 2 is a partially diagrammatic vertical section takensubstantially along the line 2 2 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary plan view, similar to FIG- URE l, but with theparts in the other of the two positions.

The invention is, in brief, directed to a regulator having a ratchetwheel 25 rotatably mounted on a base 12 and driven by a driving pawl 36ipivotal on an oscillating lever 16. The driving pawl 30 is movablebetween two positions for selectively engaging ratchet teeth 27 on wheel25 to drive the ratchet Wheel selectively in opposite directions inresponse to oscillating movement of the lever 16. A holding pawl 43 -ispivotal on the base 12 for movement between two positions, eachcorresponding to opposite positions of the driving pawl 30', forreg-ulating the ratchet wheel 25 for step-by-step movement by thedriving pawl 30, and for reversing a control mecha- ICC nism 50 inresponse to movement of the holding pawl 43 between its two positions.yIn response to a predetermined amount of movement of the ratchet wheel25, an abutment 36 on the ratchet wheel 25 engages a cooperatingabutment 35 on the `driving pawl 30 for reversing the position of thedriving pawl, `and concomitantly with reversal of the driving pawl 301,.a C-shaped over-center spring 57 having opposite ends 58 and 59pivotally connected to portions of the drivin-g pawl 30 and the holdingpalwl 43 moves the holding pawl to its other position, thereby reversingthe control mechanism 50. Whenever the ratchet wheel has been rotated apredetermined amount the control mechanism is reversed. Herein, theinvention is described -as applied to a water meterregister foralternating the flow of water as between two water softening tanks,responsive to a predetermined quantity of water flowing through eachtank.

Referring to the drawings, in FIGURE 2 the water meter 10 includes ahousing 11 containing the base 12, in the form of .a plate, irmlysecured therein as by bolts 13. As seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, .a main pin14 is suitably attached to the base as -by a peened portion 15 andextends upwardly from the base. Oscillating lever 16 on the base 12 hasan end pivotally mounted on the main pin 14. Means responsive to theflow of water through the water meter for oscillating the oscillatinglever 16 is provided in the form of a gear 17, interconnecting aneccentric 18 and a suitable lluid motor (not shown) for driving the`gear train an amount corresponding to the volume of water passedthrough the motor. The eccentric 18 has a cylinder 19 journalled in acircular opening in the base 12, and an eccentric cam or crank pin 2ointegral with the cylinder 19 and received in a bushing 21 in anelongated slot 22 of an intermediate portion `of the lever 16. As theeccentric is rotated by the gear train 17, the lever 16 is oscillatedabout the pin 14 in a plane parallel to the base 12. The ratchet wheel25 is mounted on the main pin 14, immediately above the lever 16, forrotation selectively in opposite directions. Circumferentially spacedlugs 26 are integral with a top face of the ratchet wheel for a purposeto be described hereinafter. V-shaped ratchet teeth Z7 are on thecircumferential edge of the ratchet wheel.

The driving pawl 30 is pivotally mounted on a free end of the lever 164by a suitable driving pawl pin 31 retained in aligned holes in thelever 16 and the driving pawl 30 in any suitable manner as by splitwashers in grooves of opposite ends of the pin. The driving pawloscillates with the lever 16 and is pivoted between two positions, andmore particularly lbetween a rst position in which a first detent 32operatively engages the ratchet teeth 27, as shown in FIGURE 1, and asecond position in which a second detent 33 operatively engages theratchet teeth 27, for selectively driving the ratchet wheel step-by-stepselectively Vin opposite directions, thereby providing driving means formoving the ratchet wheel in opposite directions responsive tooscillating movement of the lever 16 by the eccentric 1S. The drivingpawl 30 has a finger 34 extending away from the dri-ving pawl pin 31with respect to the main pin 14 for receiving an end of the spring 57,as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The abutment 35 on the driving pawl 30 and abutments 36 and 37 on theratchet wheel are provided for moving the driving pawl from one of thetwo driving pawl positions to the other position in response to rotationof the ratchet wheel 25 a predetermined amount in either direction bythe driving pawl 30. The abutment 35 is integral with the driving pawl30l and is positioned toward the main pin 14 with respect to the drivingpawl pin 31 for engagement with the fixed abutment 36 which is integralwith the ratchet wheel for moving the driving pawl from the firstdriving pawl position to the second driving pawl position. The abutment37 is adjustable and is provided by a rfree end of an arm 38 received onthe top surface of the ratchet wheel 25 and having an opposite endpivotally mounted on the main pin 14. A split lock washer 39 is`detachably received in a groove in the free end of the main pin 14 forretaining the lever 16, the ratchet Wheel 25, and the adjustableabutment arm 38 on the main pin 14. The outer end of the resilient leafspring type abutment arm 38 may be raised for selective positioning of afinger 40 thereof between any of the lugs 26 on the ratchet wheel,thereby adjusting the amount of rotation of the ratchet wheel in eitherdirection required to reverse the position of the driving pawl 30. Asshown in FIGURE Il, the fixed abutment 36 has just engaged the drivingpawl 35 and is about to move the driving pawl from the first drivingpawl position to the second position as illustrated in FIGURE 3.

The holding pawl 43 is pivotally mounted on the 4base 12 by means of aholding pawl pin 44 suitably secured to the base 12. The holding pawl 43is pivotal between two positions, and more particularly between a firstposition in which a first dete-nt 45 engages the ratchet teeth 27, andas shown in FIGURE 1, and a second position in which a second detent 46engages the ratchet teeth 27 for selectively holding the ratchet wheelagainst rotation, and for positioning the ratchet wheel for step-by-steprotation by the driving pawl, thereby providing holding means forregulating the movement of the ratchet wheel 25 is opposite directions.The holding pawl has an abutment in the form of a rod 47 extendingthrough a slot 48 in the base 12 and engaging a resilient actuator 49 ofa conventional double pole double-throw electric switch y50 andproviding means for moving the actuator 49 in response to movement ofthe holding pawl 43 between the two holding pawl positions. The switchhas a movable contact 51 resiliently mounted by a spring 52 forover-center snap` action `between fixed contacts 53 responsive tomovement of the resilient actuator 49. The holding pawl 43 has a nger 55extending toward the ratchet wheel 25 with respect to the holding pawlpin 44, and spaced above the driving pawl finger 34 as seen in FIGURE 2,for receiving the end of a spring, as will be more fully describedhereinafter.

As indicated briefly above, the driving and holding pawls areconcurrently urged to their respective first and second positions by aC-shaped spring 57 having opposite ends '58 and 59 in the form oftransversely extending fingers, pivotally respectively received in holesin the driving pawl finger 34 and the holding pawl finger 55. Spring 57is of the type in which its outer ends 58 and 59 are biased away fromeach other. The finger holes are so arranged to pass each other inopposite directions as the pawls move together between the first andsecond pawl positions. Thus, the spring 57 provides the means for'urging the driving pawl and the holding pawl detents into selectiveengagement with the ratchet teeth and, responsive to transfer of thedriving pawl from either one of the two driving pawl positions to theother position, transfers the `holding pawl selectively to the twoholding pawl positions, or effects concomitant movement of the pawlsfrom the first or second positions to the other positions.

To summarize the operation of the water meter regulator 10, as the -geartrain 17 is driven in accordance with the water flow, the eccentric 18is rotated thereby oscillating the lever 16 and the driving pawl 30.With reference to FIGURE 1, the driving pawl detent 32, in a firstposition, engages the ratchet teeth 27 for driving the ratchet wheel ina counterclockwise direction. When the fixed abutment 36 on the ratchetwheel engages the abutment 35 on the driving pawl, the driving pawl ismoved from the first position to a second position, as illustrated inFIGURE 3, wherein the second driving pawl detent 33 engages the ratchetteeth 27 to drive the ratchet wheel in a clockwise direction until theadjustable abutment 37 on the ratchet wheel 25 engages the driving pawlabutment 35 to again move the driving pawl to the first position. As thedriving pawl moves between its two positions the C-shaped spring 47 ismoved over-'center thereby concomitantly selectively urging the holdingpawl into each of its two positions.

Having described my invention as related to the embodiments shown in theaccompanying drawings, it is my intention that the invention be notlimited by any of the details of description, unless otherwisespecified, but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scopeas set out in the accompanying claims.

We claim:

1. A regulator comprising: a member movable in opposite directions;driving means including means alternatively movable between twopositions to engage said member for moving said member in said oppositedirections; holding means :movable between two positions to engage saidmember for regulating the movement of said member in said oppositedirections; and means directly connecting said alternatively movablemeans and said holding means and responsive to movement of saidalternatively movable means trom one of said two positions of saidalternatively movable means to the other position thereof for movingsaid holding means from one of said two holding means positions to theother position and for resiliently urging said alternatively movablemeans and said holding means into engage-ment with said member.

2. A regulator comprising: a base; a lever movably mounted on said base;a member mounted on said base for movement alternatively in oppositedirections; driving means mounted on said lever for movementalternatively between two positions to engage said member for movingsaid member in said opposite directions in response to movement of saidlever; holding means mounted on said base for movement alternativelybetween two Ipositions to engage said member for regulating the movementof said member; and means comprising a spring having spaced por-tionsconnected to said driving means and said holding means for urging saiddriving means and said holding means into engagement with said member.

3. A regulator comprising: a base; a lever movably mounted on said base;means for actuating said lever; a member mounted on said base formovement alternatively in opposite directions; driving means mounted onsaid lever for movement alternatively between two positions to engagesaid member in each position for moving said member in said oppositedirections in response to actuation of said lever; holding means mountedon said base for movement alternatively between two positions to engagesaid member in each position for regulating the movement of said member;means responsive to movement of said member to a predetermined positionin either direction for moving said driving means to the oppositedriving means position; and means comprising a spring having spacedportions connected to said driving means and said holding means andresponsive to movement of said driving means from one of said drivingmeans positions to the other position for moving said holding means fromone of said holding means position to the other position and for urgingsaid driving means iaDnd said holding means into engagement with saidmem- 4. The regulator of claim 3 wherein said spring moves over-centerwhile moving said holding means in response to movement of said drivingmeans.

5. A regulator comprising: a base; a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted onsaid base and having ratchet teeth; an oscillating lever pivotallymounted on said base; a driving pawl pivotally mounted on said lever foroscillating movement therewith and movable thereon to two alternativepositions for engaging said ratchet teeth to rotate said ratchet wheelaiternatively in opposite directions; a holding pawl mounted on saidbase for movement alternatively to two positions for holding saidratchet teeth for step-by-step rotation :bysaid driving pawl; and aspring having spaced portions connected to said driving pawl and saidholding pawl )for biasing said pawls alternatively into said twopositions.

6. A regulator comprising: a base; a ratch wheel oscillatable on saidbase and having ratchet teeth; an oscillating lever pivotally mounted onsaid base; a driving pawl mounted on said lever for oscillative movementtherewith and pivotable thereon alternatively to two positions forengaging said ratchet teeth to rotate said wheel alternatively inopposite directions; a holding pawl pivotably mounted on said base formovement alternatively to two positions for holding said wheel againstrotation in the direction opposite to which the driving pawl is rotatingsaid Wheel; and a spring having spaced portions connected to said`driving pawl land said holding pawl tor biasing said holding pawlselectively into said two holding pawl positions, and responsive totransfer of said driving pawl from either one of said two driving pawlpositions to the other position for transferring the holding pawl from:one of said holding pawl positions to the other position.

7. The regulator of claim 6, wherein said spring urges said pawls intosaid engagement with said ratchet teeth.

8. A regulator comprising: a base; a ratchet wheel oscillatable on saidbase and having ratchet teeth; a lever pivotally mounted on said basefor oscillating movement; a driving pawl pivotally mounted on said leverfor oscillating movenienlt therewith; a holding pawl pivotally mounted`on said base, said pawls each being pivotally movable to andconcurrently disposed in first or second positions and each havingportions which move in opposite directions as said pawls move betweensaid positions; first and second detents on each of said pawlsalternatively engaging said ratchet teeth when said pawls are in saidfirst and second positions respectively; and a spring having spacedportions connected respectively to said driving pawl portion and saidholding pawl portion tor concomitant movement of said pawls trom eitherof said first and second positions to the other of said first and secondpositions.

9. The regulator of claim 8 wherein said spring urges said detents intosaid engagement with said ratchet teeth.

10. The regulator of claim 8 further including means comprising elementson said ratchet Wheel and said driving pawl coacting, at preselectedpositions of the ratchet wheel, to move said driving pawl between saiddriving pawl positions.

ll. A regulator comprising: a base; a ratchet wheel oscillatable on saidbase and having ratchet teeth; a lever pivotally mounted on said base;means for oscillating said lever; a driving pawl pivotally mounted onsaid lever for oscillating movement therewith; a holding pawl pivotallymounted on said base; said pawls each being pivotally movable to andconcurrently disposed in irst or second positions and each having aportion which moves in a direction opposite the directions of movementof said portion of the other pawl as said pawls move between saidpositions; first and second detents on each of said pawls selectivelyengaging said ratchet teeth when said pawls are in said first and secondpositions, respectively, for rotation of said ratchet wheelstep-'by-step in opposite directions; a -C-shaped spring having oppositeends biased away front each other and pivotally connected, respectively,to said driving pawl portion and said holding pawl portion forconcomitant movement of said pawls between said positions and urgingsaid pawls into said engagement with said ratchet teeth; meanscomprising cooperating pontions on said ratchet wheel and said drivingpawl for moving said driving pawl between said driving pawl positionsresponsive to rotation of said ratchet wheel a predetermined amount bysaid driving pawl.

12. A regulator comprising: a movable member; driving means engagingsaid member and movable between two driving positions to drive saidmember in either of two lopposed directions; holding means movablebetween two holding positions and engaging said member to limitregressive movement or said member; and a single control elemeritdirectly mechanically connecting said holding means and said drivingmeans, said control element being responsive t-o movement of saiddriving means from one to another driving position for moving saidholding means from one to another holding position and for resilientlyurging both said driving means and said holding means into engagementwith said member.

13. A regulator comprising: a base; a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted onsaid base and having ratchet teeth; a lever pivotally mounted on saidbase; a driving pawl pivotally mounted on said lever for movementtherewith and movable thereon between two positions for engaging saidratchet teeth and rotating said ratchet wheel in either of two opposeddirections; a holding pawl mounted on said base tor movement between twopositions for holding said ratchet teeth for step-by-step rotation bysaid driving pawl; and a spring having opposite portions connected tosaid driving pawl and said holding pawl for biasing said pawls againstsaid ratchet teeth.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS315,883 AmOld Apr. 14, 1885 489,892 Balzer Jan. l0, 1893 547,860 PaigeOct. 15, 1895 938,428 Greeneld NOV. 2, 1909 2,505,991 ReinhOld May 2,1950 2,558,953 Hennl'ngel et al. July 3, 1951 3,020,774 Kullmalm Feb.13, 1962

1. A REGULATOR COMPRISING: A MEMBER MOVABLE IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS;DRIVING MEANS INCLUDING MEANS ALTERNATIVELY MOVABLE BETWEEN TWOPOSITIONS TO ENGAGE SAID MEMBER FOR MOVING SAID MEMBER IN SAID OPPOSITEDIRECTIONS; HOLDING MEANS MOVABLE BETWEEN TWO POSITIONS TO ENGAGE SAIDMEMBER FOR REGULATING THE MOVEMENT OF SAID MEMBER IN SAID OPPOSITEDIRECTIONS; AND MEANS DIRECTLY CONNECTING SAID ALTERNATIVELY MOVABLEMEANS AND SAID HOLDING MEANS AND RESPONSIVE TO MOVEMENT OF SAIDALTERNATIVELY MOVABLY MEANS FROM ONE OF SAID TWO POSITIONS OF SAIDALTERNATIVELY MOVABLE MEANS TO THE OTHER POSITION